Indian External Minister S.M. Krishna said the Twenty-three Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on July 22 when they were fishing near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits, have been released.

The Indian High Commission was making all arrangements for their return, Mr Krishna said at a joint press conference with his Indonesian counterpart Marty M Natalegawa in Delhi.

Their release today came a day after Krishna appealed to Sri Lanka to immediately set free the fishermen, who were also accused of ramming their boats into Lankan naval ships, on humanitarian grounds.

In Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, President of Innocent Fishermen’s Association, Arulanandam said that the fishermen, arrested

It is great shame that SL bows down to India who is our biggest enemy. India voted agsainst us at Geneva with USA. Lety us nevert forget that India is our enemy.

These India fishermen engage in drug, arms and human trafficking on the pretext of fishing. It is with great difficulty that our brave Navy apprehend them. They should be found guilty, their boats confiscated and they should be heavily fined and imprisoned. NO MERCY!

It is too shameful that SL bows and scrapes to India and releases Tamil Nadu criminals whenever Tamil Nadu barks against SL when Indian criminals are apprehended in our waters.

Let us stand our ground and punish these Tamil Nadu miscreants when caught by our Navy with great difficulty. Let us strengthen our hands against India by defence agreements with China and Pakistan against India. Let us allow China to build a naval base in Trinco in return for our defence.

Enough is enough.Atleast now let us stand our ground and say no nonsense hereafter.Our stance on humanitarian grounds is precariously slanting towards exposing us as a weak and subjugated nation.We shouild not tolerate this nonsense any longer.